The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
۞ No, I swear by this country (Mecca), 1 and thou art a lodger in this land; 2 or by the great father and his wonderful son (Abraham and Ishmael) 3 Verily We have created man into toil and struggle. 4 Does man think that no one will ever have power over him? 5 He shall say: I have wasted much wealth. 6 Does he think that no one sees him? 7 Did We not assign unto him two eyes 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 And guide him to the parting of the mountain ways? 10 Yet, he has not entered into Aqaba 11 Would that you knew what Aqaba is! 12 [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin,] 13 or giving food upon a day of hunger 14 To the orphan with claims of relationship, 15 Or a poor man cleaving to the dust. 16 and being, withal, of those who have attained to faith, and who enjoin upon one another patience in adversity, and enjoin upon one another compassion. 17 Those who do so are the people of the right hand, 18 whereas those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages - they are such as have lost themselves in evil, 19 Over them will be fire closed in. 20